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Grammar fix

complete a task

finish work

to finish doing a piece of work or an activity that you were given or needed to do.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • It took me two hours to complete the task my manager gave me.work
  • In my opinion, it is important to stay focused in order to complete a task efficiently, especially when working under pressure.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: complete a task

WrongI completed with the task on time.

RightI completed the task on time.

'Complete' is transitive — no 'with'.

Patterncomplete a task

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I shall finalise the assigned task forthwith.

Natural I'll get the task done.

'Finalise the assigned task' is bureaucratic; people say 'get it done' or 'finish the task'.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • complete a task
    successfullyon timea simplebefore the deadline

Don't confuse it

'Start a task' means to begin, but 'complete a task' means to finish it fully.

Try it in Daily Speak →